"Per agrum" are the root words of "pilgrimage." It literally means "through the fields." If life is essentially a continuing, ongoing pilgrimage towards being whole and holy, there is no skirting over the "agrum" or the rough, uncharted terrain that life in this world entails. The reward, however, that awaits us all is literally "out of this world." Per agrum ad sacrum ... ad astra per aspera ... To the holy, through the rough terrain of life ... To the stars, through difficulties!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

It has been my quiet desire to write something on the current political situation of our country. I would like to share a few lines with you. I beg the indulgence of my foreign readers who may not be aware, let alone interested, with what's going on in the Philippines these days. I address myself to fellow Filipinos here and abroad.

February 27, 2008

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

I HAVE BEEN A SILENT, IF AGGRIEVED, OBSERVER OF ALL THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER THE RECENT PAST. I HAVE LONG BEEN WANTING TO WRITE ON IT, BUT HAVE FOUND NEITHER TIME NOR ENERGY FOR IT, BUSY AS I AM WITH TEACHING, PREACHING, AND COUNSELING.

I WOULD LIKE TO LAUD THE BISHOPS FOR THEIR WISE, PRUDENT, & PASTORAL STATEMENT THAT GOES BEYOND MERE MORALIZING AND MORE OF THE SICK FINGER-POINTING THAT HAS APPARENTLY BECOME THE SICKENING HALLMARK OF OUR CULTURE (APART FROM, AND DISTINCT FROM, THE PERVASIVE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION IN ALL LEVELS AND SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY).

I THANK THEM FOR NOT SUCCUMBING TO THE TEMPTATION OF AN EASY SOLUTION (WHICH IS REALLY A NON-SOLUTION) CALLED FOR BY CERTAIN SECTORS WHO THINK THAT ANOTHER EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION (SIC) WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY. I LAUD THEM FOR NAMING THE REAL ISSUE AT BOTTOM AND THAT IS THE DEEPLY EMBEDDED CULTURE OF CORRUPTION IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT, IN THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL LIVES. I COULDN’T AGREE MORE WITH THEM IN CALLING FOR THE DISMANTLING OF EVERYTHING THAT OBSTRUCTS TRUTH. TOGETHER WITH THEM, I MAKE A PASSIONATE PLEA TO EVERYONE TO DESIST FROM PROSTITUTING EVEN THE VALUE OF TRUTH-TELLING ITSELF FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH AND SINISTER ENDS. I SUPPORT THEM IN REITERATING THE CALL TO “COMMUNAL ACTION” WHICH IS NOT REDUCIBLE TO ANOTHER NOISY, MANIPULATED MOB AT EDSA, ROUSED POSSIBLY TO NON-THINKING AND NON-REFLECTING STATUS BYA PARTISAN MANIPULATIVE MEDIA WHO. MISLEAD, MISGUIDE, & MISEDUCATE THE MASSES THROUGH WELL CALIBRATED SOUND BYTES & THE PRESENTATION OF CAREFULLY SCRIPTED AND CRAFTED GRANDSTANDING BY POLITICIANS (CROOKS ALL!) WHO STAND TO PERSONALLY GAIN FROM ALL THIS FRENZY OF FINGER-POINTING AND BLAMING!

I MAKE A CALL FOR PRUDENCE AND SOBRIETY – PRECISELY WHAT THE BISHOPS MOST LIKELY MEAN BY “COMMUNAL ACTION” BASED ON PRAYER AND REFLECTION – AND ONLY THEN – ACTION!

I SUPPORT THE BISHOPS FOR ADDRESSING THE ROOT ISSUE OF THIS CRISIS WHICH IS, AT BOTTOM, A MORAL AND NOT PRIMARILY, A POLITICAL CRISIS.

I MAKE A PERSONAL PLEA TO ALL FILIPINOS TO GO BEYOND EDSA, BEYOND THE MASSIVE PULL OF THE CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED “MEDIA MOMENT” AND THINK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE, THINK ABOUT THE COMMON GOOD, AND REFUSE TO JOIN THE BANDWAGON OF KNEE-JERK REACTIONS (TO BORROW FROM KAHLIL GIBRAN) “TO BUILD A FENCE, BY DESTROYING THE WALL ON THE OTHER SIDE..” I SUPPORT, NOT THE EMPTY RHETORIC OF A SOUR-GRAPING TRAPO WHO MOUTHS THE CALL FOR A MORAL REVOLUTION – A FACETIOUS SLOGAN COMING FROM ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH HIMSELF FIVE TERMS AGO!

I MAKE A CALL TO EVERYONE IN GOVERNMENT WHO HAS BEEN IMPLICATED IN SCANDAL UPON SCANDAL OF MASSIVE PROPORTIONS. KUNG MAY NATITIRA PANG HIYA SA PUSO NINYO, PLEASE MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY BOWING OUT OF YOUR SO-CALLED “PUBLIC SERVICE.” PLEASE DO NOT INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE AND WHAT LITTLE IS LEFT OF OUR NATIONAL SELF-RESPECT BY HIDING BEHIND THE CONVENIENCE OF EXTERNAL LEGALITY, PUTTING ON A SEMBLANCE OR CHARADE OF YOUR HONORABLE STATUS, AND WORK ACTIVELY SO THAT TRUTH PREVAILS, AND JUSTICE SERVED.

I MAKE A CALL TO EVERYONE WHO IS ALREADY DROOLING FOR THE TOP OFFICES OF THE LAND, WHO MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF THE MEDIA MOMENT TO PROP UP THEIR ILL-CONCEALED AMBITIONS, NOW PLAYING THE GOOD GUYS IN COMPARISON TO THE EVIL WOMAN AND THE FAT GUY AT THE RESIDENCE BY THE PASIG RIVER … THE PEOPLE LIKE US WHO BELONG TO THE SILENT MAJORITY ARE WATCHING. PLEASE DO NOT ADD MORE INSULT TO OUR ALREADY JADED AND FADING HOPES. WE DO NOT NEED GRANDSTANDING HEROES. WE JUST NEED HONEST PEOPLE WHO ARE SINCERELY OUT TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD, NOT TO INVENT GRANDIOSE PROJECTS, LOAN OODLES OF MONEY, AND STEAL EVEN BEFORE THOSE QUESTIONABLE PROJECTS CAN EVEN TAKE OFF THE GROUND! STEALING IS BAD ENOUGH. BUT ROBBING FUTURE FILIPINOS OF THEIR RIGHT TO NATIONAL SELF-RESPECT IS A CRIME THAT CRIES OUT FOR JUSTICE TO HIGH HEAVENS!

TO ALL OF YOU ALREADY CAUGHT WITH YOUR DIRTIED FINGERS IN THE COOKIE JAR … NOW IS YOUR TURN TO SALVAGE WHAT LITTLE DIGNITY IS LEFT IN YOU BEFORE THE PEOPLE’S COURT. RESIGN AND DO YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN SOME GOOD. TO ALL OF YOU POISED TO DIP THOSE VERY SAME DIRTY FINGERS IN THE SAME COOKIE JAR OF DISHONESTY AND CORRUPTION … DESIST … AND BECOME THE UNSUNG HEROES OF GOSPEL FAME, THE POOR OF YAHWEH WHOM THE LORD DECLARED AS “BLESSED.”

AND TO EVERYONE LIKE ME, FRUSTRATED AND ANGERED BY SO MUCH BRAZEN DISHONESTY, CORRUPTION, AND HYPOCRISY … PAUSE, REFLECT, AND PRAY “FOR THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I”

I AM ENCLOSING HEREWITH AN ANONYMOUS LETTER FROM A FELLOW FILIPINO. I SHARE HIS SENTIMENTS … I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH WHAT THIS LETTER SAYS. THESE ARE WORDS I’D LIKE TO MAKE MY OWN.

To all Filipinos Everywhere:

I used to think that corruption and criminality in the Philippines were caused by poverty. But recent events tell me this isn't true. It is one thing to see people turn into drug addicts, prostitutes,thieves and murderers because of hunger and poverty, but what excuse do these rich, educated people have that could possibly explain their bizarre behavior? And to think I was always so relieved when petty snatchers got caught and locked away in jail because I never fully realized that the big time thieves were out there, making the laws and running our country. Can it get any worse than this?

Every night, I come home and am compelled to turn on my TV to watch the latest turn of events. I am mesmerized by these characters. They are not men. They are caricatures of men - too unreal to be believable and too bad to be real. To see these so-called “honorable” crooks lambast each other, call each one names, look each other in the eye and accuse the other of committing the very same crimes that they themselves are guilty of, is so comical and appalling that I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It is entertainment at its worst!

I have never seen so many criminals roaming around unfettered and looking smug until now. These criminals wear suits and barongs, strut around with the confidence of the rich and famous, inspire fear and awe from the very citizens who voted them to power, bear titles like "Honorable", "Senator" , "Justice" , "General" and worse, "President." Ironically, these lawless individuals practice law, make our laws, enforce the law. And we wonder why our policemen act the way they do! These are their leaders, and the leaders of this nation Robin Hoodlum and his band of moneymen. Their motto? "Rob the poor, moderate the greed of the rich."

It makes me wonder where on earth these people came from, and what kind of upbringing they had to make them act the way they do for all the world to see. It makes me wonder what kind of schools they went to, what kind of teachers they had, what kind of environment would produce such creatures who can lie, cheat, and steal from an already indebted country and from the impoverished people they had vowed to serve. It makes me wonder what their children and grandchildren think of them, and if they are breeding a whole new generation of improved Filipino crooks and liars with maybe a tad more style but equally negligible conscience. Heaven forbid!

I am an ordinary citizen and taxpayer. I am blessed to have a job that pays for my needs and those of my family's, even though 30% of my earnings go to the nation's coffers. Just like others in my lot, Ihave complained time and again because our government could not provide enough of the basic services that I expect and deserve. Rutty roads, poor educational system, poor social services, poor health services, poor everything. But I have always thought that was what all third world countries were all about, and my complaints never amounted to anything more.

And then this. Scandalous government deals. Plundering presidents pointing fingers. Senators associated with crooks. Congressmen who accept bribes. Big time lawyers on the side of injustice. De Venecia ratting on his boss only after his interminable term has ended, Enrile inquiring about someone's morality! The already filthy rich Abalos and Arroyo wanting more money than they or their great grandchildren couldever spend in a lifetime. Joker making a joke of his own "pag bad ka, lagot ka!" slogan. Defensor rendered defenseless. Gen. Razon involved in kidnapping. Security men providing anything but a sense of security. And it's all about money, money, money that the average Juan de la Cruz could not even imagine in his dreams. Is it any wonder why our few remaining decent and hardworking citizens are leaving to go work in other countries?

And worst of all, we are once again saddled with a power-hungry president whose addiction has her clinging on to it like barnacle on a rusty ship. "Love (of power) is blind" takes a whole new meaning when PGMA time and again turns a blind eye on her husband's financial deals. And still blinded with all that is happening, she opts to traipse around the world with her cohorts in tow while her country is in shambles.

They say the few stupid ones like me who remain in the Philippines are no longer capable of showing disgust. I don't agree. Many like me feel anger at the brazenness of men we call our leaders, embarrassment to share the same nationality with them, frustration for our nation and helplessness at my own ineffectuality. It is not that I won't make a stand. It is just that I am afraid my actions would only be futile. After all, these monsters are capable of anything. They can hurt me and my family. They already have, though I may not yet feel it.

But I am writing this because I need to do something concrete. I need to let others know that ordinary citizens like me do not remain lukewarm to issues that would later affect me and my children. I want to make it known that there are also Filipinos who dream of something better for the Philippines. I want them to know that my country is not filled with scalawags and crooks in every corner, and that there are citizens left who believe in decency, fairness, a right to speak, a right to voice out ideas, a right to tell the people we have trusted to lead us that they have abused their power and that it is time for them to step down. I refuse to let this country go to hell because it is the only country I call mine and it is my responsibility to make sure I have done what I could for it.

Those of us who do not have the wealth, power or position it needs to battle the evil crime lords in the government can summon the power of good. We can pray. We can do this with our families every night. We can offer petitions every time we celebrate mass. We can ask others to pray, too, including relatives and friends here and overseas. And we can offer sacrifices along with our petitions, just so we get the message to Him of our desperation in ridding our nation of these vermin. After all, they cannot be more powerful than God!

I implore mothers out there to raise your children the best way you can. Do not smother, pamper, or lavish them with too much of the material comforts of life even if you can well afford them. Teach them that there are more important things in this world. I beg all fathers to spend time with their children, to teach them the virtues of hard work, honesty, fair play, sharing, dignity and compassion "right from the sandbox" till they are old enough to go on their own. Not just in your homes, but at work, in school, everywhere you go. Be good role models. Be shining examples for your children so they will learn to be responsible adults who will carry and pass on your family name with pride and honor.

I call on educators and teachers, we always underestimate the power of your influence on the minds of our youth. Encourage them to be aware of what is happening in their surroundings. Instill in them a love of their country, inculcate in them the value of perseverance in order to gain real, worthwhile knowledge, help us mold our children into honorable men and women. Encourage our graduates, our best and brightest, to do what they can to lift this country from the mire our traditional politicians have sunk us into. The youth is our future and it would be largely because of you, our educators, that we will be able to repopulate the seats of power with good leaders, presidents, senators, congressmen, justices, lawmakers, law enforcers and lawful citizens.

I ask all students, young people and young professionals everywhere to look around and get involved in what is happening. Do not let your youth be an excuse for failure to concern yourselves with the harsh realities you see. But neither let this make you cynical, because we need your idealism and fresh perspective just as you need the wisdom of your elders. YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU! Let your voices be heard. Do what you can for this land that gave you your ancestors and your heritage.. Use technology and all available resources at hand to spread good. Text meaningful messages to awaken social conscience. Try your best to fight moral decay because I promise you will not regret it when you become parents yourselves. You will look back at your past misdeeds and pray that your children will do better than you did.

Remember that there are a few handfuls who are capable of running this country. You can join their ranks and make their numbers greater. We are tired of the old trapos. We need brave idealistic leaders who will think of the greater good before anything else. I voted for Atty. Martin Bautista and his team and I sure hope they will run again. Do your utmost to excel in your chosen field. Be good lawyers, civil servants, accountants, computer techs, engineers, doctors, military men so that when you are called to serve in government, you will have credibility and a record that can speak for itself.

For love of this country, for the future of our children, for the many who have sacrificed and died to uphold our rights and ideals, I urge you to do what you can. As ordinary citizens, we can do much more for the Philippines than sit around and let crooks lead us to perdition.